ELF_KIND(3)

💖 ELF_KIND(3) 💖

okay bestie, welcome to the Libelf Programmer's Manual — this is the page for elf_kind, and no cap it's a lil cutie. let's get into it 🦋

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✨ NAME ✨

elf_kind — figure out what kind of file an ELF descriptor is actually pointing at 🔍

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

#include <libelf.h>

Elf_Kind elf_kind(Elf *elf);

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💅 DESCRIPTION 💅

so elf_kind checks the file type of whatever file that elf descriptor is representing. and like, this type tells you whether the descriptor is holding an ELF object, an archive member, or some other type of file entirely. it's giving "who dis" but for file formats 💀

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🎀 PARAMETERS 🎀

• elf — the ELF descriptor. that's it, that's the whole list, she's lowkey simple like that 🫶

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👑 RETURN VALUE 👑

it hands you back the file type of the file that elf represents. the possible return values are:

• ELF_K_NONE — unknown file type. mystery behavior, we simply don't know her 🙈
• ELF_K_AR — archive member. hi bestie, you came out of an ar archive 📦
• ELF_K_COFF — COFF object file. ⚠️ heads up: COFF is not supported by elfutils libelf, so don't get your hopes up fr fr
• ELF_K_ELF — ELF object file. the main character, the moment, the icon 👑

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

ar(1), ranlib(1), libelf(3), elf(5) — go read these next, iykyk 📚✨

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⭐ ATTRIBUTES ⭐

for an explanation of the terms used in this section, go peek at attributes(7).

• Interface: elf_kind()
• Attribute: Thread safety
• Value: MT-Safe

translation: she's MT-Safe, so multiple threads can vibe with her at the same time, no drama 💅

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😭 REPORTING BUGS 😭

found a bug? report it to <elfutils-devel@sourceware.org> or hit up https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/. we're listening, we promise 🫶

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and that's the whole page, bestie!! this was Libelf, dated 2025-03-31, and you just read ELF_KIND(3) — ate and left no crumbs 💖✨🎀🦋🌸💅